Patriot Prayer: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

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Patriot Prayer is a conservative group aimed at defending freedom of speech, founded by Joey Gibson.

Patriot Prayer is a conservative political action group based in Portland, Oregon. The group’s primary goals are advocating for free speech and opposing big government, though critics have accused the group of being a magnet for white supremacists and alt-right organizations.

Patriot Prayer’s rally for Saturday, August 4, has drawn concern from citizens of Portland, with the police confirming that they are prepared for anything. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Founder Joey Gibson Insists it is “Not a White Supremacy Group”

In a video posted by Gibson that aimed to set the record straight about his group, he said, “I am not white. I am a person of color, so I don’t believe in white supremacy…I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, a Republican, it doesn’t matter to me. What I’m trying to do is bring people together who believe in freedom, believe in love, believe in peace, and believe in free speech.”

Gibson continued to explain that the basic tenets of his group are freedom, love, peace, and truth. “I believe that even if we get the best president in the world, it will not solve the problems we have down at the bottom,” Gibson said. “There’s so much deception, there are so many lies, and it is on both sides, extremists on both sides. So much hatred, so much anger. We do not respect people who think differently.”

“My philosophy has always been you cannot beat an ideology out of someone,” Gibson said. “You cannot stop a movement with hate, you cannot start a movement with hate.”

“This isn’t about politics,” Gibson said. “This is about having principles, and doing what you believe is right.”

2. Patriot Prayer Has Often Been Pitted Against Left-Wing Protest Groups

Patriot Prayer Organizer Speaks to Reporters in PacificaJoey Gibson spoke to a group of reporters Saturday in Pacifica about his group's reasons for canceling their rally at Crissy Field. (8-26-17)2017-08-26T23:03:46.000Z

Of the August 4 Patriot Prayer march, Rose City Antifa issued a statement on its intentions to protest: “We make no apologies for the use of force in keeping our communities safe from the scourge of right-wing violence … this is the time to act: Be prepared, be smart, but do not be a bystander.”

In 2017, Gibson called out for liberals to denounce antifa protestors. “Please, if your on the left speak out against these hate groups,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “Antifa doesn’t even care about fighting ‘racists’. They want to fight the republic as a whole.”

3. Patriot Prayer Has Engaged in Several Rallies, Which Have Ranged from Minimal Violence to Extensive Violence Reported

Patriot Prayer has hosted several rallies, protests, and marches since its inception as an organization in 2016. Some of these events have been entirely peaceful, while other recent events have been extremely violent.

The Patriot Prayer events are often magnets for white supremacy and alt-right groups, like the pro-Confederacy Hiwaymen and Identity Evropa. At an event organized by Patriot Prayer in early June, Al Jazeera reports that over 70 groups attended, though it’s unclear how many of them were alt-right and white supremacy organizations.

4. On June 30, 2018, a Patriot Prayer Rally Became Violent With Antifa Protestors & Fireworks, Rocks, and Bottles Were Thrown Between Protestors

Patriot Prayer Founder Joey Gibson inspires U of Washington Republicans2-10-2018 University of Washington campus Seattle, being Conservative on a modern College campus takes fortitude and courage, the College Republican Group, supporters of President Trump, invite Joey Gibson and Patriot Prayer to travel up to Seattle and participate in a freedom of speech Rally, despite being outnumbered 10 to 1 by the Left counter-protesors shouting down his every word, Joey manages to captivate and empower the young Conservatives to continue to stand up for their values, Country, and President. for more go to Youtube/Leo Stratton SUBSCRIBE2018-02-11T06:50:39.000Z

A month ago, a Patriot Prayer rally unfolded into an especially violent altercation between antifa protestors and Patriot Prayer members, as the two groups threw objects like fireworks, rocks, and bottles at one another.

The Portland Police eventually declared the situation to be a riot and proceeded to seize weapons that included knives, clubs, and chemical sprays, also proceeding to detain several protestors. The policy eventually decided to throw balls of pepper spray into the crowd, as well.

Earlier in the day, Gibson had said in a speech that the goal of the rally was to “bring light into a city of darkness.”

5. White Supremacist Jeremy Christian Was Involved at a Patriot Prayer Rally, Though Gibson Threw Him Out & Later Denounced Him

Jeremy Joseph Christian kicked out of Free Speech Rally by ConservativesJeremy Joseph Christian, now murderer, attempts to infiltrate conservative group Patriot Prayer's freedom march in Portland on April 29th 2017 after announcing he was a nazi. Members of Patriot Prayer and Warriors For Freedom rebuke him and attempt to have police remove him from the group.2017-04-30T01:09:07.000Z

On April 29, Jeremy Christian (a man who would later kill two men and injure a third when they tried to stop him from racially harassing two teenage girls) attended a Patriot Prayer rally, loudly yelling anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic slurs. He was also reportedly making Nazi salutes.